Holiday meals with loved ones are a special time to share joy and create memories. With the winter holidays near, it’s the perfect time to plan festive table settings. Top designers around the world offer creative ideas to make your Christmas table extra special.
Blending tradition with originality, you can mix heirloom pieces like china or silver with modern touches like fresh linens, candles, or vases. A beautiful centerpiece adds natural charm to the table, making it a perfect mix of old and new, classic and modern.
Here are 10 designer-inspired ideas to make your Christmas table stunning, whether you prefer bold and bright, warm and rustic, or luxe and layered styles. You’ll also find a few fresh items to add this year to impress your guests.
Plaid-Meets-Pretty Table Setting
In her Chicago home, Alessandra Branca sets a warm and festive table for Christmas. She starts with a black and red plaid tablecloth and adds red accents like dishes, glassware, and a pretty amaryllis centerpiece. To finish it off, she ties the napkins with red velvet ribbons and sprigs of greenery. The table feels cozy and inviting, perfect for a family gathering. It’s simple but thoughtful, with little touches that make it special. The mix of colors and textures creates a joyful, welcoming vibe that’s full of holiday cheer.
Flower Power Place Setting
At his Hamptons home, designer Alex Papachristidis sets a simple but elegant Christmas table with ivory, brown, silver, and gold. He uses his own china, Christofle flatware, and goblets from William Yeoward. To bring in holiday color, he adds red roses, making tall “trees” in baskets and smaller bunches in silver bowls. He was inspired by the flowers at the Agnelli family’s home in Italy. The table looks stylish and festive, with beautiful details that make it perfect for Christmas dinner.
Shades of Scandinavia Table Setting
At his upstate New York home, floral designer Lewis Miller sets a Christmas table in blue and yellow, instead of the usual red and green. He uses French blue glassware, marbled dinner plates, and gingham napkins to create the look. A golden tablecloth and velvet ribbon add a cheerful touch. For the centerpiece, he arranges lemons, oranges, and holiday greenery. Each place setting includes a Scandinavian straw star ornament. The table feels festive and fresh, with a bright twist on traditional Christmas colors. The combination of colors and textures makes the setting warm and inviting. It’s a playful yet elegant way to celebrate the season.
Mexican Craft Table Setting
In the courtyard of their San Miguel retreat, designers Jeffry Weisman and Andrew Fisher set up bronze-tone nesting tables for lively holiday parties. They decorate the tables with red, white, and green candles, each painted by Oaxacan artists. The candles add a festive touch, while pale green Talavera dinner plates give a fresh take on traditional Christmas colors. The bronze-tone tables complement the colors, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The mix of handmade candles and unique plates adds character to the setting. It’s a perfect blend of culture and celebration for a beautiful holiday gathering.
Rustic Traditional Table Setting
At a hunting lodge designed by Richard Keith Langham, the homeowners set a Christmas table that feels right at home in the woodsy surroundings. The table is dressed with a simple woven tablecloth and Spode Woodland china. Antler flatware and tree branch place cards add a rustic touch. For the centerpiece, they use pomegranates, pinecones, winter greenery, and candles, bringing warmth and color to the table. The overall feel is cozy and welcoming, perfect for the holiday season. It’s a beautiful mix of nature and festive cheer, with simple yet meaningful details. The table creates a warm and inviting atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.
Cup of Joy Table Setting
For her Christmas dinner, Charlotte Moss sets a bright table with a yellow tablecloth. The centerpiece is made of kumquat branches. Each place has a julep cup with moss, a pear, and a handwritten card tied with red ribbon. Yellow and orange flowers match the kumquats. The table looks warm and cheerful. The colors make it feel festive and happy. The natural touches like moss and fruit add freshness. The table is simple and pretty. It’s a joyful way to celebrate Christmas.
Black and Gold Table Setting
Designer Rudy Saunders used his clients’ Royal Crown Derby Old Imari china for their Christmas table. He added black and gold details like placemats, napkins, chargers, and glasses to match the plates. A pearl-trimmed napkin ring added an elegant touch. The black and gold colors made the table look bold and fancy. The mix of patterns and rich colors felt festive and stylish. Everything came together to make the table special for Christmas. It looked classic and glamorous. The table felt warm and inviting. It was a beautiful way to use their china.
Winter Wonderland Table Setting
Christopher Spitzmiller used nature as his inspiration for his Christmas table. He chose a floral tablecloth that matched his dining room wallpaper. For decoration, he added vases filled with paperwhite flowers in bright colors and evergreen candle “trees.” These natural details made the table look fresh and festive. The design was simple and elegant. Soft lighting from the pendant and wall sconces added a warm glow. Everything came together beautifully. It was a perfect way to celebrate Christmas. The table showed his love for nature and flowers.
Jewel-Toned Table Setting
For her Christmas table, designer Rebecca Gardner uses bright colors like burgundy, magenta, orange, and teal, instead of just red and green. She adds a classic touch with Mottahedah’s Sacred Bird and Butterfly china. The pattern looks great with the bright colors. Marbled paper Christmas crackers in autumn colors match the flowers. The table feels fun and festive. Gardner mixes old and new styles together. The setting looks both fancy and playful. It creates a warm and inviting space for Christmas. This table is perfect for family and friends to enjoy.
Tropical Twist Table Setting
Christmas in Palm Beach for designer Mimi McMakin means setting the table outside. She finds most of her decorations by foraging. The placemats are made of bright lime green leaves. The centerpiece is a collection of seashells. Green bamboo flatware and vintage green glasses add color. Her heirloom Indian Tree china (John Maddock & Sons) completes the look. The table is both fancy and relaxed, perfect for the warm weather. The natural items give it a tropical feel. It’s a beautiful way to enjoy Christmas outdoors.
